Storage table system and method

ABSTRACT

A storable table system allows for relatively compact storage of a relatively large sized table. The storable table system uses a tabletop derived from a combination of full corner and half corner sections folded out from two unfolded rectangular center sections. The full corner sections and the half corner sections are coupled to the rectangular center sections with hinges and the rectangular center sections are coupled to each other with linkages. The linkages allow one of the center sections to be folded onto the other center section after the full corner sections and the half corner sections have been folded onto their respective center sections. A table frame supports the tabletop with beam segments that are slidably coupled to one another to expand the width of the table frame for support of the unfolded tabletop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to tables.

2. Description of the Related Art

When not in use, a table can occupy an undesirable amount of floor space of a room being used for activities not requiring the table. This undesirability is further enhanced if the table is relatively large and/or the floor space of the room is relatively small.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a storable table system in a closed linkage-down position with center halves, two full corners and four half corners all in unfolded positions.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a linkage shown coupled with a cross-sectional portion of the storable table system in the closed linkage-down position of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the linkage of FIG. 2 in the closed linkage-down position of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a frame of the storable table system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the storable table system of FIG. 1 in the closed linkage-down position.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the storable table system of FIG. 1 in a partially open linkage-down position with center halves, two full corners and four half corners all in unfolded positions.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the linkage shown coupled with a cross-sectional portion of the storable table system in the partially open linkage-down position of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the linkage of FIG. 7 in the partially open linkage-down position.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the storable table system of FIG. 6 in the partially open linkage-down position.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the storable table system of FIG. 1 in a fully open linkage-flat position with center halves, two full corners and four half corners all in unfolded positions.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the linkage shown coupled with a cross-sectional portion of the storable table system in the fully open linkage-flat position of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the linkage of FIG. 11 in the fully open linkage-flat position.

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the storable table system of FIG. 10 in the fully open linkage-flat position.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the storable table system of FIG. 1 in a partially open linkage-up position with center halves, two full corners and four half corners all in unfolded positions.

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the linkage shown coupled with a cross-sectional portion of the storable table system in the partially open linkage-up position of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is an isometric view of the linkage of FIG. 15 in the partially open linkage-up position.

FIG. 17 is a bottom plan view of the storable table system of FIG. 14 in the partially open linkage-up position.

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of the storable table system of FIG. 1 in a closed linkage-up position with center halves, two full corners and four half corners all in unfolded positions.

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the linkage shown coupled with a cross-sectional portion of the storable table system in the closed linkage-up position of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is an isometric view of the linkage of FIG. 19 in the closed linkage-up position.

FIG. 21 is a bottom plan view of the storable table system of FIG. 18 in the closed linkage-up position.

FIG. 22 is an isometric view of the storable table system of FIG. 1 in the closed linkage-up position with center halves, one full corner and three half corners all in unfolded positions and with a full corner and a half corner vertically positioned.

FIG. 23 is a bottom plan view of the storable table system of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is an isometric view of the storable table system of FIG. 1 in the closed linkage-up position with a full corner and a half corner folded onto one of two center portions of the table and another full corner and three half corners still in the unfolded position of FIG. 1.

FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of an instance of the linkages associated with one of the unfolded half corner of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a side elevational view of an instance of the linkages associated with the folded half corner of FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is a bottom plan view of the storable table system of FIG. 24.

FIG. 28 is an isometric view of the storable table system of FIG. 1 having one full corner and two half corners folded onto one center portion as a first storage half and the other full corner and the other two half corners folded onto the other center portion as a second storage half with all support beams still extended.

FIG. 29 is a bottom plan view of the storable table system of FIG. 30.

FIG. 30 is an isometric view of the storable table system of FIG. 28 with the support beams retracted.

FIG. 31 is a bottom plan view of the storable table system of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is an isometric view of the storable table of FIG. 30 rotated from an deployed position to a storage position.

FIG. 33 is a bottom plan view of the storable table system of FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is an isometric view of the storable table system of FIG. 32 with the first storage half in a vertical position and the second storage half remaining in a horizontal position.

FIG. 35 is a side elevational view of the linkage shown coupled with a cross-sectional portion of the storable table system of FIG. 34.

FIG. 36 is an isometric view of the linkage positioned as shown in FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 is a bottom plan view of the storable table system of FIG. 34.

FIG. 38 is an isometric view of the storable table system with the first storage half folded onto the second storage half and the table frame in an extended position.

FIG. 39 is a side elevational view of the linkage shown coupled with a cross-sectional portion of the storable table system of FIG. 38.

FIG. 40 is an isometric view of the linkage positioned as shown in FIG. 38.

FIG. 41 is a bottom plan view of the storable table system of FIG. 38.

FIG. 42 is an isometric view of the linkage side of the storable table system of FIG. 38 with the table frame in a retracted position.

FIG. 43 is an isometric view of the hinge side of the storable table system of FIG. 42.

FIG. 44 is a bottom plan view of the storable table system of FIG. 42.

FIG. 45 is an isometric view of the table frame in the retracted position of FIG. 42.

FIG. 46 is an isometric view of the table frame with alternative extensions in an extended position.

FIG. 47 is an isometric view of the table frame with the alternative extensions in a retracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As will be discussed in greater detail herein, a storable table system allows for relatively compact storage of a relatively large sized table. The storable table system uses a tabletop derived from a combination of full corner and half corner sections folded out from two unfolded rectangular center sections.

The full corner sections and the half corner sections are coupled to the rectangular center sections with hinges and the rectangular center sections are coupled to each other with linkages. The linkages allow one of the center sections to be folded onto the other center section after the full corner sections and the half corner sections have been folded onto their respective center sections.

A table frame supports the tabletop with beam segments that are slidably coupled to one another to expand the width of the table frame for support of the unfolded tabletop. The tabletop is pivotably coupled to the table frame to allow the tabletop to rotate approximately 45 degrees between a storage position and a deployed position.

As shown in FIG. 1, a storable table system 100 includes a tabletop 102 and a table frame 104 used to support the tabletop. The tabletop 102 includes two center sections 106 each having a top surface 106T, two full corners 108 each having a top surface 108T, and four half corners 110 each having a top surface 110T. The two center sections 106 each have an exterior side 106E, a center side 106C, and two short sides 106S. The full corners 108 each have a hypotenuse side 108H and the half corners 110 each have a short side 110S.

The storable table system 100 has hinges 112 for coupling of some components. Each of the short sides 110S of the half corners 110 are coupled to a different one of the short sides 106S of the center sections 106 by two of the hinges 112. Each of the hypotenuse sides 108H of the full corners 108 are coupled to a different one of the exterior sides 106E of the center sections 106 by four of the hinges 112. As described further below, the hinges 112 allow each of the half corners 110 and each of the full corners 108 to be folded onto that portion of the center section 106 to which they are coupled.

The center sections 106 have notches 106N and the half corners 110 have notches 110N to provide openings for linkages 120, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in a closed linkage-down position, when the storable table system 100 is partially or fully in a stored position further described below. Each of the linkages 120 have two end-links 122 with two mid-links 126 extending therebetween. For each of the linkages 120, the two mid-links 126 are coupled together with pins 128 to form a mid-joint 130. Further, each mid-link 126 is coupled with other of the pins 128 to a different one of the end-links 122 to form an end-joint 132.

The table frame 104 is shown in FIG. 4 without the tabletop 102 connected. The table frame 104 has two post-beam units 140. Each post-beam unit 140 includes two post legs 142 and a support beam 144 running therebetween. The post-beam units 140 are positioned with their two support beams 144 running substantially parallel with each other.

Extending between the two post-beam units 140 are three sliders 146 shown in their extended position in FIG. 4. Each of the sliders 146 has a pair of end segments 148 with one of the end segments of each of the pairs attached to one of the post legs 142 of each of the post-beam units 140. Alternatively, one of each of the pairs of the end segments 148 can be attached to one of the support beams 144. Each of the sliders 146 also has a mid-segment 150 slidably coupled to and extending between the two end segments 148. Based upon the mid-segment 150 of each of the sliders 146 being slidably coupled to the two end segments 148, each of the sliders can be extended in length to expand and contract the size of the table frame 104 along the longitudinal dimension of the slider.

Each of the support beams 144 of the post-beam units 140 have two telescoping extensions 152 that can be pulled out from the support beams to an extended position as shown in FIG. 4 to further support the tabletop 102. A bracket 154 having a slot 156 is attached to the mid-segment 150 of the slider 146 that is centrally positioned between the other two sliders.

A bolt-nut combination 158 slidably and rotatably coupled to the bracket 154 through the slot 156, as shown in FIG. 5, allows the tabletop 102 to be slidably and rotatably coupled to the table frame 104 as further described below. A rotational stop 160 attached to the underside of one corner section 106 of the table top 102 prevents the tabletop from being over-rotated when being rotated from storage to deployment of the system 100. The rotational stop 160 eventually hits one of the support beams 144 when the tabletop 102 is rotated into deployment position as shown in FIG. 5.

In order to store the storable table system 100, a series of actions are taken. First, the two center sections 106 are separated from one another and then rejoined in order to change the linkages 120 from a closed linkage-down position shown in FIG. 2 to a closed linkage-up position shown in FIG. 19. FIGS. 6-9 depict various aspects of the storage table system 100 in an initial stage of this transition between closed linkage-down and closed linkage-up with the two center sections 106 partially separated and the linkages being in a partially open linkage-down position.

FIGS. 10-13 depict various aspects of the storable table system 100 in a interim stage of this transition between closed linkage-down and closed linkage-up with the two center sections 106 fully separated and the linkages being in a fully open linkage-flat position. FIGS. 14-17 depict various aspects of the storage table system 100 in a near final stage of this transition between closed linkage-down and closed linkage-up with the two center sections 106 partially separated and the linkages 120 being in a partially open linkage-up position. FIGS. 18-21 depict various aspects of the storable table system 100 in the final stage of this transition between closed linkage-down and closed linkage-up with the two center sections 106 not separated and the linkages 120 being in a closed linkage-up position.

To further the storage process, the storable table system 100 is converted from a unfolded-corners configuration depicted such as in FIG. 1 to a folded-corners configuration. In the folded-corners configuration, the full corners 108 and the half corners 110 are all folded onto their respective associated portions of the two center sections 106. In an initial stage of this transition from the unfolded-corners configuration to the folded-corners configuration, one of the full corners 108 and one of the half corners 110 are positioned as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 in the process of being folded onto their respective portions of one of the center sections 106.

FIGS. 24-27 depict various aspects of the storable table system 100 in an interim stage of this transition from the unfolded-corners configuration to folded-corners configuration. One of the full corners 108 and one of the half corners 110 are shown in FIG. 24 as fully folded onto their respective associated portions of one of the center sections 106. As fully folded, the top surface 108T of the folded full corner 108 and the top surface 110T of the folded half corner 110 touch portions of the top surface 106T of one of the center sections 106.

Contrasted views of the linkage 120 in the closed linkage-up position are shown in FIG. 25 and FIG. 26. In FIG. 25, the linkage 120 is shown as one of the linkages on the left half of the system 100 shown in FIG. 24 with the associated half corners 110 shown as unfolded. In FIG. 26, the linkage 120 is shown as one of the linkages on the right half of the system shown in FIG. 24 with an associated one of the half corners 110 shown as folded.

FIGS. 28-29 depict various aspects of the storable table system 100 in the final stage of the folded-corners configuration. All of the full corners 108 and all of the half corners 110 are shown in FIG. 28 as fully folded onto their respective associated portions of the center sections 106. In the folded-corners configuration, the tabletop 102 can be treated in further folding action as if it only had the two center sections 106 that were twice their actual thickness.

The extensions 152 are shown in FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 being in fully retracted positions. The tabletop 102 is shown in FIG. 32 in a storage position having been rotated counter-clockwise relative to the deployment position shown in FIG. 30 by approximately 45 degrees. The difference in rotational position between the deployment position shown in FIG. 31 and the storage position shown in FIG. 33 is also evidenced by the rotational stop 160. From the perspective of the bottom plan views of FIG. 31 and FIG. 33, the rotational stop 160 indicates that the tabletop 102 is rotated clockwise approximately 45 degrees to go from the deployment position to the storage position.

In the storage position shown in FIG. 32, the half corners 110 share a side with two of the sliders 146 since the half corners can be folded over as further discussed below to allow the sliders to be slid into a shortened storage position. To further proceed with configuring the storable table system 100 for storage, in the storage position, the tabletop 102 can be treated as two functional halves 162 coupled together with the linkages 120 with each of these two functional halves having the width, the length, and twice the thickness of one of the center sections 106.

As shown in FIG. 34, FIG. 35, and FIG. 37, one of the functional halves 162 of the tabletop 102 is vertically positioned with the linkages 120 acting as a hinge as further shown in FIG. 35 and FIG. 36. One functional half 162 of the tabletop 102 is shown in FIG. 38, FIG. 39, and FIG. 41 as fully folded over on top of the other functional half of the tabletop in a final position for storage whereas the sliders 146 of the table frame 104 are still extended as being deployed. FIGS. 39 and 40 show the configuration of the linkages 120 for the this final storage position of the tabletop 102.

Finally, the table frame 104 is shown in FIGS. 42-44 with the sliders 146 being slid into a retracted position to complete the storage configuration. FIG. 45 shows the table frame 104 alone with the sliders 146 in the retracted position. Alternative first extensions 164 and second extensions 166 are shown in FIGS. 46-47, which can provide additional stability for supporting the tabletop 102.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A table comprising: a tabletop including: a first rectangular center section having a top surface, a center side with a plurality of notches, an exterior side opposite the center side, first and second sides opposite one another and extending between the center side and the exterior side; a second rectangular center section having a top surface, a center side with a plurality of notches, an exterior side opposite the center side, first and second sides opposite one another and extending between the center side and the exterior side; a first full corner including a top surface and a first side hingedly coupled to the exterior side of the first rectangular center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the first full corner between a first position onto the top surface of the first rectangular center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the first rectangular center section; a first half corner including a top surface, a first side with a plurality of notches and a second side substantially perpendicular to the first side and hingedly coupled to the first side of the first rectangular center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the first half corner between a first position onto the top surface of the first rectangular center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the first rectangular center section; a second half corner including a top surface, a first side with a plurality of notches and a second side substantially perpendicular to the first side and hingedly coupled to the second side of the first rectangular center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the second half corner between a first position onto the top surface of the first rectangular center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the first rectangular center section; a second full corner including a top surface and a first side hingedly coupled to the exterior side of the second rectangular center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the second full corner between a first position onto the top surface of the second rectangular center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the second rectangular center section; a third half corner including a top surface, a first side with a plurality of notches and a second side substantially perpendicular to the first side and hingedly coupled to the first side of the second rectangular center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the third half corner between a first position onto the top surface of the second rectangular center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the second rectangular center section; a fourth half corner including a top surface, a first side with a plurality of notches and a second side substantially perpendicular to the first side and hingedly coupled to the second side of the second rectangular center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the fourth half corner between a first position onto the top surface of the second rectangular center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the second rectangular center section; and a plurality of linkages, each linkage coupled to the first center section and the second center section, each linkage positioned in alignment with one of the notches of the first center section and one of the notches of the second center section, the linkages configured to hingedly position the center side of the first center section adjacent the center side of the second center section when the top surfaces of the first full corner, the first half corner, the second half corner, the second full corner, the third half corner, and the fourth half corner are in their respective second positions and to hingedly position the first full corner adjacent the second full corner, the first half corner adjacent the third half corner, and the second half corner adjacent the fourth half corner when the top surfaces of the first full corner, the first half corner, the second half corner, the second full corner, the third half corner, and the fourth half corner are in their respective first positions; and a table frame including: two post-beam units, each post-beam unit including two post legs and a support beam extending therebetween; and a plurality of sliders extending between the support beams, each slider having a plurality of segments including two end segments fixedly coupled to a different one of the post-beam units, each segment slidably coupled to at least another one of the segments, the tabletop being pivotably coupled to the table frame.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of linkages has two end-links and two mid-links, each of the mid-links pivotably coupled to each other and a different one of the end-links.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein each end-link of each linkage is fixedly coupled to a different one of the first rectangular center section and the second rectangular center section.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein a stop member is fixedly coupled to a surface of one of the first rectangular center section and the second rectangular center section, the member being positioned to prevent pivotal movement of the tabletop relative to the table frame past a predetermined position.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein a longitudinal member fixedly coupled to one of the first rectangular center section and the second rectangular center section and a bracket with a slot is fixedly coupled to one of the segments of one of the sliders and wherein the tabletop is positioned relative to the table frame to position the longitudinal member through the slot of the bracket.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the longitudinal member is a bolt.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the notches of the first rectangular center section align with a different one of the notches of the second rectangular center section to form an opening when the first rectangular center section is adjacent the second rectangular center section.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein each of the linkages are coupled to the first rectangular center section and the second regular center on surfaces opposite the top surfaces of the first rectangular center section and the second rectangular center section.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein each of the linkages extend away from a different one of the openings when the tabletop is in a closed linkage-down position.
 10. The system of claim 8 wherein each of the linkages extend through a different one the openings when the tabletop is in a closed linkage-up position.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein each of the notches of the first half corner aligned with a different one of the notches of the third half corner to form a second opening to receive a different one of the linkages through the second opening with the tabletop is in a closed linkage-up position and when the top surfaces of the first half corner and the and the third half corner are in their respective second positions.
 12. A tabletop comprising: a first rectangular center section having a top surface, a center side with a plurality of notches, an exterior side opposite the center side, first and second sides opposite one another and extending between the center side and the exterior side; a second rectangular center section having a top surface, a center side with a plurality of notches, an exterior side opposite the center side, first and second sides opposite one another and extending between the center side and the exterior side; a first full corner including a top surface and a first side hingedly coupled to the exterior side of the first rectangular center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the first full corner between a first position onto the top surface of the first rectangular center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the first rectangular center section; a first half corner including a top surface, a first side with a plurality of notches and a second side substantially perpendicular to the first side and hingedly coupled to the first side of the first rectangular center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the first half corner between a first position onto the top surface of the first rectangular center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the first rectangular center section; a second half corner including a top surface, a first side with a plurality of notches and a second side substantially perpendicular to the first side and hingedly coupled to the second side of the first rectangular center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the second half corner between a first position onto the top surface of the first rectangular center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the first rectangular center section; a second full corner including a top surface and a first side hingedly coupled to the exterior side of the second rectangular center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the second full corner between a first position onto the top surface of the second rectangular center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the second rectangular center section; a third half corner including a top surface, a first side with a plurality of notches and a second side substantially perpendicular to the first side and hingedly coupled to the first side of the second rectangular center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the third half corner between a first position onto the top surface of the second rectangular center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the second rectangular center section; a fourth half corner including a top surface, a first side with a plurality of notches and a second side substantially perpendicular to the first side and hingedly coupled to the second side of the second rectangular center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the fourth half corner between a first position onto the top surface of the second rectangular center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the second rectangular center section; and a plurality of linkages, each linkage coupled to the first rectangular center section and the second rectangular center section, each linkage positioned in alignment with one of the notches of the first rectangular center section and one of the notches of the second rectangular center section, the linkages configured to hingedly position the center side of the first rectangular center section adjacent the center side of the second rectangular center section when the top surfaces of the first full corner, the first half corner, the second half corner, the second full corner, the third half corner, and the fourth half corner are in their respective second positions and to hingedly position the first full corner adjacent the second full corner, the first half corner adjacent the third half corner, and the second half corner adjacent the fourth half corner when the top surfaces of the first full corner, the first half corner, the second half corner, the second full corner, the third half corner, and the fourth half corner are in their respective first positions.
 13. A table comprising: a tabletop including: a first center section having a top surface; a second center section having a top surface; a first portion including a top surface, the first portion hingedly coupled to the first center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the first portion between a first position onto the top surface of the first center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the first center section; a first partial portion including a top surface, the first partial portion hingedly coupled to the first full portion to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the first partial portion between a first position onto the top surface of the first center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the first center section; a second partial portion including a top surface, the second partial portion hingedly coupled to the first portion to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the second partial portion between a first position onto the top surface of the first center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the first center section; a second portion including a top surface, the second portion hingedly coupled to the second center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the second portion between a first position onto the top surface of the second center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the second center section; a third partial portion including a top surface, the third partial portion hingedly coupled to the second portion to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the third partial portion between a first position onto the top surface of the second center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the second center section; a fourth partial portion including a top surface, the fourth partial portion hingedly coupled to the second portion to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the fourth partial portion between a first position onto the top surface of the second center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the second center section; and a plurality of linkages, each linkage coupled to the first center section and the second center section, the linkages configured to hingedly position the first center section adjacent the second center section with their respective top surfaces substantially sharing a common plane when the top surfaces of the first portion, the first partial portion, the second partial portion, the second portion, the third partial portion, and the fourth partial portion are in their respective second positions and to hingedly position the first portion adjacent the second portion, the first partial portion the third partial portion, and the second partial portion adjacent the fourth partial portion when the top surfaces of the first portion, the first partial portion, the second partial portion, the second portion, the third partial portion, and the fourth partial portion are in their respective first positions; an a table frame couplable to the tabletop.
 14. The table of claim 13 wherein the table frame includes a first pair of legs with a first support beam extending therebetween and second pair of legs with a second support beam extending therebetween, and a plurality of sliders extending between the support beams.
 15. A tabletop including: a first center section having a top surface; a second center section having a top surface; a first portion including a top surface, the first portion hingedly coupled to the first center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the first portion between a first position onto the top surface of the first center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the first center section; a second portion including a top surface, the second portion hingedly coupled to the second center section to allow for hinged positioning of the top surface of the second portion between a first position onto the top surface of the second center section and a second position substantially sharing a common plane with the top surface of the second center section; and a plurality of linkages, each linkage coupled to the first center section and the second center section, the linkages configured to hingedly position the first center section adjacent the second center section when the top surfaces of the first portion and the second portion are in their respective second positions and to hingedly position the first portion adjacent the second portion when the top surfaces of the first portion and the second portion are in their respective first positions. 